THE GAMING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1921, Page 4

THE GAMING BILL.

In some respects it is to be regretted that the Gaming Bill was defeated in the House the other evening, for it aimed at remedying abuses, providing for a redistribution of permits, and doing justice in the matter of racing facilities to districts which have shown considerable expansion during the past few years. The loss of the Bill leaves the position as it was, with all its inequalities and abuses. For instance, Hawke’s Bay has no fewer than 19 permits annually, whilst Taranaki, with a slightly bigger population, has only nine. In Napier there are two clubs; there are also two in

Gisborne. Towns of a like size and importance such as New Plymouth have only one club, with but two meetings a year. The point is that Hawke’s Bay has more permits than it is entitled to, and this fact was recognised by the commission, which proposed to reduce the number and give additional permits to Taranaki and places such as Te Kuiti and Morrinsville, which at present are without permits, though both centres gf important and largely populated districts. The commission also sought to eliminate the proprietary clubs, which are conducted, not for sport, but for private, profit. At present there are 281 permits, and the Bill reduced the number to 278. It will be admitted that in a general way too much time is devoted in New Zealand to racing, with its concomitant unsettlement and waste. This fact was recognised by the Bill, which stated that the issue of ad ktional permits, increasing the volume of totalisator betting, was highly undesirable. The commission aimed at reducing racing in the main centres, where the totalisator turnover was heavy, and giving the permits to country districts, where the totalisator turnover would be necessarily smaller. The commission, indeed, carried out its work in a very impartial and thorough manner, and its findings, which were all in the right direction, deserved a better fate at the hands of the legislators, who appeared to be more concerned for the interests of their own districts than for the welfare of the country as a whole in the matter of sporting facilities. The report of the com- x mission, however, has pointed attention to several objectionable and inequitable features in the sporting life of the community, and Parliament simply cannot allow them to continue a day longer than necessary. It is hoped members will take a more dispassionate and disinterested view of the position, and co-operate in making the improvements that have been shown to be so necessary and desirable.